The Senate Has Been Debating For 34 Hours And Things Are Getting Weird

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Published

March 17, 2016

While you were sleeping, the Senate was up all night debating Senate reform and things started to get weird.

Kicking off the madness was Labor threateningly ‘joking’ that senators should bring their pillows and mattresses – kicking off the #SenateSleepover hashtag – and then and Independent senator Nick Xenephon took it all too literally.

Slippers and Jimmy Jams @Nick_Xenophon is dressed for the #SenateSleepover @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicshalfdead pic.twitter.com/ICxjHlg1rZ

— Mikearoo (@mpbowers) March 17, 2016

Did… did you buy those special, mate? Because it looks like you bought those special.

This debate – which, a quick reminder, is about how you allocate your preferences in the voting ballot, and has given us the truly bizarre experience of watching the Greens team up with the Coalition against Labor – has been going for a marathon 34 hours.

Labor’s tried a few times to nix this madness and go to bloody sleep, but the government has ruled that parliament will stay until the bill is dealt with, and so the madness rages on.

“If you still want to be here on Easter Friday, on Good Friday, that’s fine,” said Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann, who clearly missed his calling as a high school teacher who has a misbehaving bunch of shits for a class.

Given that they’ve been up for a good, idk, a long fkn time at this point, senators are slowly but surely starting to lose it.

my workplace rn pic.twitter.com/FVD7ToXTNw

— Scott Ludlam (@SenatorLudlam) March 17, 2016

Labor Senator Doug Cameron made a fart joke:

Not sure what my favourite #Senatesleepover moment is

Senator Cameron quoting Monty Python “I fart in your general direction” is up there.

— Kerrie Yaxley (@KerrieYaxley) March 17, 2016

And here’s the vine of that moment:

Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield got weird on Photoshop:

Democracy is not a game for you or backroom dealers to play Senator Conroy #SenateSleepover pic.twitter.com/6jyY5zBeZ7

— Mitch Fifield (@SenatorFifield) March 17, 2016

Labor Senator Glenn Sterle compared senate reform to his colonoscopy:

Please enjoy this video of Labor Senator @GlennSterle at 5am linking his colonoscopy to the #SenateReform debate. pic.twitter.com/klJPdwOOXA

— Alice Workman (@workmanalice) March 17, 2016

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham is going to stink the place up, but at least he’ll look good doing it:

not game to shower yet in case the bells ring, but time to iron a shirt & be ready for the end of #SenateSleepover! pic.twitter.com/EIbZYg6Cre

— Simon Birmingham (@Birmo) March 17, 2016

And things are only going to get weirder.

BREAKING: 12 hours in and we are voting on an actual amendment! 1st of 38. #SenateSleepover

— Greens (@Greens) March 17, 2016

Update: There are 62 amendments, not 38 – sorry folks. So to clarify, we’re 2 amendments down out of 62. Buckle up. #SenateSleepover

— Greens (@Greens) March 17, 2016

Debate on Senate voting reform has now been going for more than 34 hours. In 40 minutes will be 9th longest debate since 1990.

— Mathias Cormann (@MathiasCormann) March 17, 2016

It’s going to be a long weekend for everyone* involved.

*dis you: